WoolstonPrior to the opening of the impressive Itchen Bridge in 1977, the only way for cars and foot passengers to cross the water from Woolston to Crosshouse had been by using the chain-operated floating bridge; a form of ferry which pulled itself back and forth across the river using heavy underwater chains. Woolston Station was built in 1866 specifically to provide an interchange point for the floating bridge; an early example of integrated transport!

The attractive station building is a twin to the one at St. Deny’s. In the past, Woolston’s busy goods yard served the nearby Thornycroft, later to become ‘Vosper’ Thornycroft, shipyards. The station and yard also served the famous Vickers Supermarine Spitfire aircraft factory nearby. This made the area a target for heavy bombing during the Second World War, and during an air raid in November 1940 a train standing in Woolston Station was hit by a bomb, killing one passenger – a Polish airman. The goods yard closed in 1966, and now housing has been built on the site.

The railway twists its way through Woolston Station and then climbs sharply the short distance to the next stop which is Sholing.